This trip, Guy Fieri's getting a taste of global flavor. In Cincinnati, the Jamaican joint firing up their trademark jerk chicken and spicy snapper. In Boston, the lunch-only spot serving a full plate of authentic Italian, like porcini cascioni and rosettes. And in Duluth, the flavorful border dweller dishin' out a taste of Thailand with dishes like the Bangkok burrito and a killer lamb curry.
Four returning Chopped champions compete for a chance to make it to the grand finale to fight for $50,000. In the first round, the chefs contend with a basket that includes tiny, infuriatingly time-consuming eggs and a Moroccan meat. Red snapper in the entree basket must be filleted in a snap, and pastries and pops in the dessert basket challenge the two remaining competitors.
Things get prickly when the competitors open up the appetizer baskets to discover a spiny surprise. Then in the Entree Round, the judges sympathize when one chef faces a serious snapper snafu after everything literally falls apart. And when one of the finalists takes liberty with the rules when finishing up a complex dessert, the transgression could mean the difference between victory and disgrace.
Kardea Brown's Grandma Josephine and her girls, Miss Carolyn and Miss Evelyn, never miss the chance to gather on a Friday night for a traditional Southern fish fry. Kardea is giving them a week off by joining the fun and bringing their classic Friday meal of Fried Whole Red Snapper with Creole Gravy, Oyster Rice, Citrus Pound Cake with Blood Orange Curd and Hurricane Punch.
This trip, Guy Fieri's hitting the road and grabbing grub straight out of Mom's kitchen. In Boulder, Colo., a mother-son team servin' up Chinese specialties like dan dan noodles and steamed buns. In Columbus, Ohio, a Jamaican joint dishin' out jerk chicken, red snapper and other island favorites. And in Mesa, Ariz., a family spot cooking lights-out Latin cuisine, from a Cubano empanada to arroz con pollo.
This trip, Guy Fieri's visiting some familiar Triple D faces and checking out their new places. First, a primo pizza joint in Flagstaff, Ariz. firin' up pies with not-your-everyday toppings. Plus in Fairhope, Ala., a killer waterfront spot serving up serious seafood, like snapper collars and the bomb bouillabaisse. And in Miami, a chef dialin' up the funk factor with his spin on Chinese specialties like dandan noodles.
Let's taco 'bout it! Four chefs attempt to prove who deserves to win all the dinero for their all-taco meal. A frantic first round leads to some missteps in the kitchen, and fish tacos are in order for the entree round, when the chefs find red snapper in the baskets. In the dessert round, a festive cocktail is part of the puzzle, but will the judges be toasting the chefs' final plates?
Ayesha Curry is celebrating her two favorite women, her mother and grandmother, by making her own version of favorite family recipes that are influenced by their Jamaican roots. She's making Jamaican Snapper Sliders with sweet mayo, Escovitch Vegetables and Jerk Spiced Baked Plantain Chips. To top off the menu with a touch of island sweetness, she makes No Churn Passion Fruit Ice Cream with Rum Vanilla Caramel Sauce and a Ginger Hurricane rum cocktail.
With canned fruit and a seafood delicacy in the appetizer basket, the chefs have to get it together fast, to get a cohesive dish made. Then in the entrée round, when the chefs set out to make snapper dishes in a snap, two of the competitors run out of time to do exactly what they planned. Will it hurt their chances? Then, after two very driven finalists tackle the dessert round, the judges face a difficult choice.